Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Most Fantasy Football Leagues are currently in the playoffs. That means that the stakes are the highest and fantasy football owners are constantly making sure their top guys are playing in the big games. But be careful if you're updating your team at work or discussing roster moves with your co-workers. Why? Because, as Yahoo! Sports wrote, if you work for a company such as Fidelity, it could lead to your firing (H/T Ari).

Said Fidelity spokesman Vin Loporchio: "We have clear policies that relate to gambling. Participation in any form of gambling through the use of Fidelity time or equipment or any other company resource is prohibited. … We want our employees to be focused on our customers and clients."

Well is fantasy sports gambling? It may be a distraction at work but is it really an actionable offense? The Yahoo! writer thinks it isn't:

We would also like to point out – in our professional capacity as fantasy gurus, not as legal advisors – that laws have been passed which define the terms "bet" and "wager," and fantasy participation has been excluded. Here's a link to a million-word legal definition. Whatever else he did, Pettigrew wasn't gambling. Back off, company spokesman.

Now can you change your company policy to exclude things like fantasy sports and college basketball pools? Absolutely. But if you're going to fire someone for an offense like this, make sure that it is definitely covered by your policies and procedures.

Though maybe the reason the employee was fired was Trent Edwards was his quarterback. If he's supposed to be advising clients, what does that say about his decision skills?

All jokes aside, four people are out of a job because of fantasy football. Do you feel that this is just? Does your company stop you from accessing fantasy sports? Let us know in the comments below.